ESTONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 2009

2.5. Tourism
After independence was restored, the number of tourists
to Estonia has constantly increased. In 1999, slightly
fewer than a million internal and external tourists were
accommodated in Estonia; this figure was already 50%
larger in 2008 – 2.38 million. Estonia’s characteristically
naturally scenic places continue to be one of the main
factors motivating travel to Estonia.
The number of foreign tourists rose constantly from
the early 1990s up until 2005, then dropped slightly for
several years before resuming rise in 2008 (figure 2.9). The
number of foreign tourists increased sharply in 2004, a
possible reason being Estonia’s accession to the European
Union. The greatest number of foreign tourists arrived in
Estonia in 2005 – 1.43 million. This was slightly more than
Estonia’s population. The greatest numbers of visitors to
Estonia come from Finland, Germany, Sweden, Russia,
Latvia and Great Britain. Finns account for 50% of all
tourists to Estonia. About half of the Finnish tourists
visiting Estonia spent one day in the country.
Besides external tourism, internal tourism has also
grown constantly. Internal tourists used Estonian lodging
services the most in 2007 (963,000).
The areas of Estonia most frequently visited are Tallinn
and Harju County and the city of Pärnu and Pärnu County
(figure 2.10). Each year there is an increase in the number
of tourists who visit other Estonian regions besides Tallinn
– such as western and southern Estonia.
Estonia’s nature is an important factor motivating
travel and an object of interest for all of the primary target
markets. For example, 81% of German tourists wish to
visit Estonia’s naturally scenic sites, compared to 55%
of Finns and 80% of Russians. Of potential travellers to
Estonia, 69% are interested in spending time in nature
and 42% in active pursuits in nature. The goal of tourists
travelling to Estonia for short stays is usually shopping
or pleasure. Since early 2000, visitation to Estonian spas
and sanatoriums has also grown constantly.
Along with the constantly growing number of tourists,
the number of accommodation providers has also grown
on a consistent basis (map 2.1).
2500000 total
2000000
foreign visitors accommodated
Estonian inhabitants accommodated
number of tourists accommodated
1500000
1000000
500000
0
745 162
878 749
971 853
1 118 102
1 226 999
1 401 627
1 473 902
1 922 126
2 072 586
2 259 087
2 343 044
2 377 671
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Figure 2.9. Percentage of internal and external tourists out of all tourists accommodated. Data: Statistics Estonia.
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